Lockdown expansion holds no fears for Amble deli business as new shop opens in Alnwick

The Galley, already a success in Amble, has moved into the former Trotters bakery on Bondgate Within with the creation of six new jobs.

James Leighton, who helps run the family business, said: “Although we are still going through this terrible pandemic the opportunity arose to take on a shop in a great location which was to good an opportunity to miss. It has always been in our plans to look for premises in Alnwick to open a second Galley.”

The new shop will offer the same goods as its Queen Street counterpart – with ice cream from Morwick Dairy, meat from Greens the butcher, bread from Trotters and fruit and veg from Amble-based Independent Fruit and Veg.

"By doing so it will mean that we will be doubling our workforce but not only that we will be investing more heavily with our local suppliers,” said James, who is also talking to Alnwick-based suppliers about teaming up.

He expects footfall to remain low in Alnwick until restrictions are lifted but remains confident in the longer-term outlook.

"We’ve taken on six new members of staff to get us started in Alnwick which will be fine in lockdown but I suspect we will need more once restrictions are lifted,” he said.

The Amble shop has seen a fall in trade in recent weeks but the introduction of a free delivery service has worked well.

“We’re still doing well in Amble,” said James. “There has been a slight drop in sales because customers from other businesses have had to close their doors so we’re not getting the hairdressers, beauticians and the like coming in but we’ve still got a lot of loyal local customers who eat with us on a daily basis.”

The team has been boosted after being nominated for a Town & County Business Champions award.

"We are proud of where we are now and what we have achieved in a short space of time,” said James. “The Galley brand is growing outside of the area quickly with more shops requesting to sell our products.”

The Galley opens in Alnwick on Thursday, February 4.

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